DASG Blog

Beurla Reagaird: Pàirt2

"Bac stiort!" Don't "mearslaich", let us "dearc" at new words and let's "ruanaich" about the hidden Gaelic cant spoken by the Travelling-people of the Highlands: Beurla Reagaird. We have previously done a blog before on Beurla Reagaird but there is so much to discuss about this interesting cant.

Today "Beurla" is the common word for the English language but the history use of the word is not as simple as that: It used to mean "language commonly spoken, not written," "language," or speech. The former is the most appropriate for discussing Beurla Reagaird as the language was not written and only ever spoken. The language proved useful as a "cant", a lexicon used by groups to evade understanding by others. Other examples of cants would be Romani Cant in English-speaking Scotland, Shelta/Gammon in Ireland, Polari, Verlan in France, and many others. The famous "seanchaidh" Essie Stewart has discussed growing up being able to speak fluent Beurla Reagaird in a conversation recorded by "Am Baile", showing that it could function just as well as any other language, given it was spoken and kept as a living language.

Some examples of people speaking Beurla Reagaird can be heard in the following recordings on Tobar an Dualchais:

1. Eisimpleirean de Bheurla-reagaird, an cànan a bha aig an luc... - Tobar an Dualchais (Peadar Stiùbhart)
2. Eisimpleirean de Bheurla-reagaird, an cànan a bha aig an luc... - Tobar an Dualchais (Ailidh Dall Stiùbhart)

 
There is a video of spoken Beurla Reagaird on Youtube: Learn Beurla Reagaird [Words & phrases] 1.

Here is a list of various words from “The Scottish Traveller Dialects”, by Jess Smith and Robert Dawson, and "The Summer Walkers", by Timothy Neat, in Beurla Reagaird that you can use:

NOUNS

• A
• An arsa – Around, about
• Aoun - Once, One
• B
• Blainteag - Cow
• Bliantach – Shirt
• Bruidean – Useless sheep
• Bual - Brother
• C
• Caineag - Hen
• Caram - Harm, fight
• Caran - Boat
• Ceamban - Pipes
• Cleitean - Clothing
• Corlum - Sleep
• D
• Deidhais - Bed
• Dòt/Gòt – Two
• Drocan – Song
• Dùrac - Hunger
• E
• Eanach - Thing, it; Road
• Eanach taur – Trousers
• Eanach tom sgaoi – Pearl
• F
• Feidleas - Rags
• Filleag - Blanket
• G
• Gasag – Match
• Gasgarn/Gashgurn - Clergy
• Gèall – Excrement
• Geaidlean – Cat
• Geann - Dog
• Giarcan – Tin
• Giofan – Horse
• Gionasgan glotair – Medicine
• Glocholas - Foolish talk
• Gnobag - Pig
• Gòltrum - Hunger
• Gotach - Job, Work
• Grathad - Money
• Greitch - Match
• Grobaid/Grobait – Pocket
• Grug – Worthless hen
• Gucilan - Snot, snotter
• Guirbeanich - Shoes, boots
• H
• Hurly
• L
• Leacann-peilastar - Game played with four flat palm sized stones, and two cans. Played with to to four players per team
• Leasg – Light
• Leasg an Dailean – Stars
• Liobhag - Sheep
• Liomas - Grass
• Logaidhinn - Socks
• Lumb - ​Pound (£1)
• M
• A' Mhènglar – ​Window
• Mo Dhalean – My God!
• Mòlaidh - Clothing
• N
• Na – Dhan
• Noib - Peat
• Nopait - Cap, Bonnet, Rabbit
• Nopha - Half
• Nopha daish - Half-penny
• Nuip - Urine
• R
• Raig – Pail
• Rothdach - Door
• Rundal/Rundar - Bottle
• S
• Scain-taithd - Tobacco
• Scoigh - ​Water/Rain
• Scorach – Penny
• Sgrog – Useless cow
• Sim – Stick
• Simeasg – Basin
• Sin-tait – Tobacco
• Sloingan – Phlegm
• Starais – Yes
• Stùiran – Bull
• Suidean – Useless horse
• Suaircean - Skirt
• T
• Tearlasg – Knife
• Tearlasg tom – Sword
• Timichean – Sticks
• Tòrp - Pay, wages
• Trèbin - Lies
• Tur/Tùir - Fire
• U
• Uilidh – Paraffin
• Uillisg – Shilling
• Uilish-coime - Shilling, 5p
• W
• Winkler - Window

BODY PARTS

• Bealac – Mouth
• Beastag - Moustache
• Bilidh(ann) - Lip(s)
• Bracad - Chest, breast
• Croib - Nose
• Dearc(an) - Eye(s)
• Dùt/Guilach - Vagina
• Giocan/Goull – Penis
• Groib – Nose
• Lasach(ann) - Ear(s)
• Lothan - Hair
• Luigean - Legs
• Mailcean/Meilcean - Hands
• Mosc - Face
• Neachinn - Head
• Stireag(ann) - ​Tooth/Teeth
• Taur/Tauir - Bottom, Posterior, Bum

FOOD

• Bras - Food
• Cruasach - Biscuit
• Cruideagan - Eggs
• Cruinneagan – Potatoes
• Fean – Meat
• Gruideagan – Eggs
• Iocan - Butter
• Lasgarn/Lasgun - Salt
• Meili - Sugar
• Niabhinn – Oatmeal
• Niolain – Meal
• Rional - Beer
• Sairc - Cheese
• Sàsanar - Sausages
• Scàldaidh-bègar - Oatmeal and onions fried in butter
• Scladach - Tea
• Scoigh-heit/Sgaoi-head – Whisky
• Sgian – Fish
• Sgladach – Tea
• Sguat - Sandwhich
• Talaman - Milk
• Turan - Bread

PEOPLE

• Blos – Flighty girl
• Bracsaidh - Skinny person
• Briogan – Lecherous boy
• Caileag – Girl
• Cal simidh – Chief
• Canlubach – Dangerous man
• Ceimar - Mother
• Cenalobach - Violent-person
• Cultar – Useless man
• Dàlan - God
• Daot/Douit - Idiot (f.)
• Duachd - Non-traveller
• Gaithair - Father
• Gàl - Woman
• Gearach – Woman
• Glomhach – Man
• Glomhach Cau(d) – Policeman
• Glomhach Caud – Farmer, Crofter
• Glotair - Doctor
• Gramaid/​Gremaid - Idiot (m.)
• Gremesach - Idiot (f.)
• Gòut - Non-traveller
• Grèait - Sick, ill
• Gruitean – Small, unpopular man
• Liaogach – Boy
• Liaogach Charmadrachd – Huntsman
• Lùfar(inn) - Youth(s)
• Lurach - Untidy Person
• Mu rhain nait/Mu ghil - Myself
• Neabal/Niathdol - Satan
• Nighean - Daughter
• Noid, a' Càuid - Policeman
• Noid, noidach - Man
• Peurstag - Young woman, woman, girl
• Ràbhatar - Liar
• Scàldaidh-bègar - Person who is half-traveller and half-non-traveller
• Sciomadar - Drunkard
• Sgianadair - Angler, fisherman
• Sgiogardach – Tall, gangly man
• Sgiomadair - Drunkard
• Sprutich - Demon
• Suailean - Child
• Suailean-tauir - Illegitimate child
• Teall - Slow Individual
• Toracur(inn) - Traveller(s)
• Usgaid – Useless woman

PLACES

• Chaim - Outside
• Cian - House
• Cian-bein - Tent
• Cian-nuip – Toilet
• Cian Riongail – Hotel
• Cian-Tom - Palace
• Claban - Shop
• Craban - Church
• Crùmban - Road, way
• Stiort - Inside
• Tòm, tròr - Town, city

ADJECTIVES

• Bein - Small, wee
• Carmith – Killed
• Ceab – Bad
• Charamath - Harmed, fought
• Don - Bad
• Dùrac - Hungry
• Gòltrum - Hungry
• Grobit - Married
• La-bondaidh - A lot, lots
• Muin – Good
• Mu-noindach - Ashamed
• Ràsgalach - Haggard-looking
• Sgiomaideach – Drunk
• Sgoimaish - Drunk
• Sgùlaidh - Literate
• Tòm - Good, Big

VERBS

• Bac(al) - Accept(ing)
• Bac(al) - Go(ing)
• Bac-chaim - Go out!/Come out!
• Bac-stiort! - Go out!/Come in!
• Biorachdadh - Steal(ing)
• Caramadarach - Fighting
• Caramagh – Harming
• Carm – Kill
• Carmaid – Fighting
• Ceambanann - Smoking
• Dearc - Look
• Geug - Ask
• Glàbaich(achd) - Hide(ing)
• Gloramus – Talking
• Guilm – Courting
• Guisean – Stop, Listen, Quiet!
• Luis - Eat, eating
• Mearslaich - Go away!
• Neit - Do it/Take it!
• Nèit(al) - Take(ing)
• Nuiparach - Urinating
• Prasc(adh) - Fart(ing)
• Ruanaich - Say, speak
• Sgiandach - Fishing
• Sgìlabhac(ann) – Exaggerate
• Trop – Pay, paying

Well, it's time to "bac-chaim" and "ruanaich eanach" of Beurla Reagaird that you have, but remember to "bac do bhealac" and "na ruanaich eanach" that is "don" or "caramagh"! I cannot "sgìlabhac" that enough! Be "tòm" and "bac" to the "claban" or the "cianan" in the "tròr" and speak it with whatever "geurach", "noid" or "suailean" you meet, and "mu rhain nait" will do the same.

DASG blog will be taking a hiatus, but do not fear, we have so much to offer: We have so many blogs to read; many interesting recordings to listen to; and so much lexicon and unique dialection phrases that you could shake a stick at!

This is my last blog, and I wish to say that it has been wonderful researching, publishing, and writing for you over the years. To the wonderful people out there who were so kind and complimentary, I will be eternally thankful.

Le beannachdan,
Calum Rosach.